CO2 Emission Payback Time of c-Si Photovoltaic Systems in Costa Rica

Abstract

Due to the growth of solar photovoltaic installations around the world, it is necessary to calculate the amount of CO2 avoided or emitted by this technology when installed in Costa Rica. For that reason, the present study intends to compute greenhouse gas emissions payback time (GPBT) in three distinct locations of Costa Rica. The energy consumed along the life cycle of a solar photovoltaic power plant was analyzed, and through the energy payback time and several assumptions, it is intended to visualize the most likely scenario, total amount of emissions was accounted for a simulated 1 MWp AC power plant, using solar panels manufactured in 2017, and total amount of avoided emissions were determined for the operation period of the same plant. The studied scenarios show there is not enough CO2 avoidance in 25 years (from 201S to 2042) of operation to recover emissions from the rest of the life cycle, which means that introducing PV plants in Costa Rican electric matrix will not necessarily avoid emissions.